17 trafficked Myanmar fishermen rescued from fishing boat in Thailand

The trafficked Myanmar fishermen rescued from fishing boat being seen.

SEVENTEEN trafficked Myanmar fishermen were rescued from a fishing port in Prachuap Township, Southern Thailand on Wednesday with the assistance of the Myanmar Association in Thailand (MAT), it is learnt.
MAT found the trafficked Myanmar men, including five children, with the assistance of the Thai anti-human trafficking police.
“We managed to save the fishermen shortly before the ship planned to depart,” said Ko Aung Myat Thu, member of the Myanmar Association of Thailand (MAT).
“A Myanmar woman had promised 17 of the men that they could get jobs in Mawlamyine, but instead sold them into Thailand. The 17 trafficked men have been forced to work on the fishing boat for three months. One of them connected to some networking organisation and gave me this information.” he added.
“I don’t really know where we are. But, when we are fishing at sea it takes ten days (to make a round trip).
We usually go out into the sea twice per month. We don’t have any off days on the boat.” said Ko Nay Myo, one of the rescued workers.
MAT is still investigating the case.